The heartbreak of India’s 2019 World Cup semi-final loss is something fans still haven’t gotten over. And now, it’s back in the spotlight, thanks to a surprising move by former New Zealand opener Martin Guptill. He upset many Indian fans with a post on Instagram that seemed to mock MS Dhoni’s heartbreaking run-out in that match.
Martin Guptill’s Instagram Post Rekindles Painful Memories
Martin Guptill was the man behind the direct hit that ended Dhoni’s innings during the high-pressure semi-final between India and New Zealand at Old Trafford in Manchester. New Zealand won that match by just 18 runs, knocking India out of the tournament and crushing their hopes of lifting the trophy.
Now, years later, Martin Guptill has triggered that pain again by resharing a story on Instagram originally posted by the ICC. The post showed the clip of MS Dhoni’s run-out, but what really set people off was the caption by the page @bowwow_sports, which joked, “@martyguptill31 Are you a sniper?” Guptill’s resharing of this story didn’t go down well with Indian fans, who flooded social media with angry reactions.
During that match, India was chasing 240 and found themselves in deep trouble. Then came Ravindra Jadeja, who joined MS Dhoni to mount an incredible fightback. The pair added 116 runs for the seventh wicket, and Jadeja’s fearless 77 kept India alive in the game. After his dismissal, Dhoni was India’s last big hope.
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The Run-Out That Ended India’s Dreams
With just 25 runs needed off 11 balls, MS Dhoni smashed a six over point off Lockie Ferguson, lifting the hopes of millions. But just two balls later, it all ended. MS Dhoni tapped the ball to square leg and went for a second run to retain the strike. Guptill sprinted in, picked up the ball, and nailed a perfect throw at the stumps. The third umpire confirmed what fans feared: Dhoni was inches short of the crease and was given out. That moment ended India’s innings and their World Cup dreams.
New Zealand went on to reach the final, where they lost to England on the boundary count rule under Eoin Morgan’s captaincy. India, meanwhile, is still searching for their next ODI World Cup title.
Since then, India has faced more heartbreaks, including the 2023 ODI World Cup final loss to Australia on home soil. But they’ve also found success recently, winning the T20 World Cup in 2024 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. Still, the 2019 semi-final remains a painful memory, and Guptill’s recent post.
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